From South Africa to an International Audit Career
I’m Wian, a Team Leader/Client Relationship Manager at The Audit Company, where I’ve been part of the team since May 2025.
My career started in South Africa, where I began my professional journey with KPMG South Africa. Working in a Big Four environment gave me a strong foundation in audit, IFRS reporting and working with large and international organisations.
After completing my training and becoming eligible to register as a Chartered Accountant, CA(SA), I felt it was the right time to step outside my comfort zone. I had always wanted to gain international experience, see more of the world and broaden my knowledge beyond traditional audit.
That journey eventually took me to Australia, where I worked remotely with Australian clients in an audit and tax environment. At the same time, I wanted to develop a broader understanding of finance and how businesses are valued and managed beyond the audit perspective. This led me to complete the Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)® qualification through the Corporate Finance Institute.
After my time working remotely, I was ready to get back into an office environment and take the next step in my career. Europe had always appealed to me, both professionally and personally. I wanted experience in another developed economy, exposure to a new business culture and, importantly, the opportunity to continue strengthening my financial reporting knowledge.
That decision brought me to the Netherlands and, in May 2025, to The Audit Company B.V.
Moving countries and adapting to a new working culture has definitely been a learning curve, but also an exciting part of the experience. The Dutch approach is direct and practical, and working with a diverse range of clients has broadened my exposure to different industries, reporting frameworks and international business environments. Since joining, I have had the opportunity to work on IFRS and Dutch GAAP engagements, both within the Netherlands and internationally, including group reporting, consolidations and cross-border assignments. My work has taken me across borders to countries including Tunisia, Greece, the UK and China, giving me the opportunity to work with clients and teams on location.
What I appreciate most about The Audit Company is the combination of professional responsibility and the opportunity to keep learning, with the broad scope of responsibility. Being part of a growing firm means you are given the chance to take ownership, work closely with clients and continue developing both technically and personally.
Looking back, moving from South Africa to the Netherlands was a significant step, but it has given me exactly what I was looking for: a new culture, international experience and another perspective on the profession, which I am thankful for.